Loop file



P 13, 1955 N. J. SPINDLER ET AL 2,717,699

LOOP FILE Filed Feb. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TORS I p 1955 N. J. SPINDLER ET AL LOOP FILE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1954 Wm? Mm ml? VIM/Z M mar 7. W7 .5 7 $7. 4 3% W e; 3%

p 1955 N. J. SPINDLER ET AL 2,717,699

LOOP FILE Filed Feb. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 N VEN TOR E J- /Vo rmarr Spz'wiir: flzYvrer Z 3700 7118/74 rz x7770 Jamar/S p 13, 1955 N. J. SPINDLER EI'AL 2,717,699

LOOP FILE Filed Feb. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E a H 7333235;

United States Patent Ofiice Patented Sept. 13, E 355 LOOP FILE Norman J. Spindler and Hilmer F. Bloomstran, Jamestown, Robert W. Larson, Ashvllle, and Ray C. Grant, Jamestown, N. Y., assignors to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application February 24, 1954, Serial No. 412,276 13 Claims. (Cl. 21110) This invention relates primarily to filing cabinets or filing tables on which a plurality of file carriages are movably mounted. In particular this invention concerns the means for movably mounting a plurality of carriages in a shallow container or the like such that the several carriages may be readily circulated around a compressed,

loop-type, track mounted in the container.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a filing table or the like comprising a loop-like track and a plurality of movable carriages that may be readily circulated about the table mounted track in either direction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filing table that supports a loop-type track mounting a plurality of movable carriages, said table occupying the minimum floor area for the function it accomplishes and providing a work area around its periphery with a conveniently arranged storage area located interiorly of the track.

It is another object of this invention to provide a filing table or cabinet wherein workers may be located along opposite sides of the table and means are provided whereby the workers may readily shift the file work from one side of the table to the other or store the work in the island area between the opposed sides of the table.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a support with a loop-shaped track thereon wherein novel means are provided for circulating movable carriages about the narrow U-shaped ends of the track.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement for circulating work records between adjacently positioned workers while requiring minimum effort on the part of the worker.

Gther objects and advantages of this invention'will become readily apparent from a reading of the following description and a consideration of the related drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a filing cabinet or table that embodies this invention;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the file carriages of Fig. 1 beginning movement about the U-shaped end of the cabinet trackway;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the file carriages at a more advanced point in their movement around the U-shaped end of the cabinet trackway;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the completion of movement of the leading file carriage about the U-shaped end of the cabinet trackway;

Fig. 5 is a top plan elevational view of the filing cabinet shown in part in Figs. 1-4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged bottom plan elevational view taken as indicated by the arrows 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan elevational view of that portion of the trackway included within the circle 11 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings the reference numeral identifies the filing cabinet or filing table that embodies this invention. This table 26 includes a number of supporting legs 21 that may be of such a height as to position the work surface of the table at either desk height, such that workers may be seated around the table, or of an increased height, such that the table work surface is conveniently arranged for workers who may be required to stand along the sides of the file table. The table 2% also includes opposed side walls 22, 23 and opposed end walls 24, 25. Located centrally of the table work surface is an elongated, island area 27 that has portions extending above and projecting below the table bottom wall 46.

The island area 27 comprises a series of storage compartments 28 (see Fig. 2) which may be closed by cover sections that can be connected to the table by hinges such as the hinges 29. The compartments 23 in the island 27 provide storage space for file work or the like when this work is not being transported on the movable work carriages that are subsequently described in detail. It will be noted that the opposite ends of the island area 27 are converging or tapered and that there is mounted in each of the tapered end portions a guide wheel 30 (see Fig. 6 particularly). Each guide wheel 30 is rotatably mounted on a vertically extending shaft 31 that is connected to a table mounted bracket 32 by a nut 33. The guide wheels 30 are of such a diameter and are so positioned in the island area end portions that their side surfaces 34 (see Fig. 6) project outwardly beyond the adjacent side walls 35 of the island formation 27. Mounted on and extending along the side walls 35 of each of the tapered ends of the island formation 27 are guide straps 36 (see Fig. 1). These straps 36 are adapted to be engaged by the corner rollers on the file carriages when the file carriages pass around the ends of the island formations 27 as will be subsequently explained.

The cabinet 20 has a horizontally extending bottom surface 40 (see Fig. 12 particularly) that extends between the side walls 35 of the island 27 and the opposed side and end walls 22, 23 and 24, 25 respectively of the table 20. Mounted on the table bottom wall 40, so as to extend longitudinally of the table in the area between the island 27 and the table side walls 22, 23, are sets of trackways that each comprise a pair of spaced apart, rod-type, tracks 41. These track rods 41 (see Fig. 12) may be mounted in channel type supports 42 that are fixedly connected to the table bottom 40 by means of L-shaped support brackets 43. The rod type tracks 41 extend substantially the full length of the table sides between the points 45 (see Fig. 5) where the island formation end portions begin to taper down in cross sectional width.

At each end of each of the rod-type tracks 41 (see.

Fig. 7) there is mounted on the upper face of the table bottom wall 40 an inclined plate 50. Each plate is positioned between a pair of rods 41 and slopes upwardly to provide an upwardly inclined ramp member that connects the table bottom surface 40 with the elevated bottom wall portion 51 at each end of the table. From Figs. 6 and 7 it is clear that the bottom walls 51, at each end of the table, are raised above the main bottom wall 40 that extends along the major portion of the table. The purpose of the ramps 50 that connect bottom walls 40, 51 will become evident from the subsequent description of the manner of operation of this filing table and its associated file work carriages.

The work carriages that are used for circulation about this loop-type filing table are substantially rectangularly shaped, shallow trays 61 that have suitable roller means on their bottom surfaces to engage the aforementioned tracks 41, ramps and/ or the elevated, end positioned, table bottom wall portions 51 as the carriages are passed around the table track circuit. As all carriages 60 are of identical construction only one will be described in detail. Fixedly connected to the underside of the bottom of the tray 61 (see Figs. 7 and 8) are two pairs of yoke plates 62, 63 and 64, 65 respecsuch that they will engage and ride along the rod type tracks 41 (see Fig. 12) as the carriages 60 pass lengthwise of the table 20. It is thought to be obvious that the wheels 67, that are mounted on fixed axles 66, would not provide the optimum means for carrying the carriages 66 around the relatively narrow U-shaped track end portions 51 due to the fact that they would produce a sliding as well as a rolling action.

To carry the carriages 60 around the U-shaped ends 51 of the track circuit with a minimum of friction, there is mounted on the underside of the bottom of each of the trays 61, between the carriage wheels 67, two pair of ball-type casters 71, 72 and 73, 74 (see Figs. 8 and 9). Each of the ball-type casters comprises a housing member 75 (see Fig. 9) that rotatably seats a ball member 76. Housings 75 are fixedly connected to channel-type support brackets 77 mounted on the underside of the bottom of the tray 61. The ball and socket casters permit true rolling during movement of the carriages 60 around the trackway end portions 51. The reason for mounting the ball-type casters 71-74 between the pairs of wheels 62-65 will become readily apparent from the subsequent description of the manner of operation of this device. It will be noted from Fig. 12 that the ball casters 76 project below the carriage wheels 67 an amount X. The purpose of this elevational difference will become readily apparent.

Fixedly mounted on the underside of each of the carriages 61, at each corner thereof (see Figs. 8 and 10') is a guide roller 8184. The guide rollers 81-84 are identical so only one will be described. Each guide roller, such as roller 82 (see Fig. 10) is rotatably mounted on an axle 85 that is supported in a bracket 87. The bracket 87 has bifurcated end portions 88 between which the roller 82 is mounted. Bracket 87 is connected to the underside of the tray 61 by the bolts 89. From Figs. 10 and 12 it is quite clear that the guide rollers 81-84 project outwardly beyond the periphery of the trays 61 and thus it is obvious that the rollers 81-84 will act as bumpers to guide the carriages 69 around the U-shaped end portions of the track circuit as subsequently pointed out.

From Fig. 11 it will be noted that the ends 43a of the rod supporting angle iron brackets 43 are bent inwardly to provide a flared mouth to facilitate alignment of the carriage wheels 67 with the rod tracks 41 as the carriages pass off the U-shaped end portions 51 and on to the tracks 41. It will also be noted from Fig. 11 that the ends 36a of the guide straps 36 on the side walls 35 of the island end portions are bent inwardly to facilitate initial engagement of the carriage guide rollers 82, 84 with the island side walls 35. The semi-circular side walls 90 at the outer sides of the ends of the track circuit may also be provided with guide straps 91 that are engageable with the guide rollers 81, 83. The ends 91a of the straps 91 are bent outwardly to facilitate initial engagement with the guide rollers.

The work table or cabinet 26, which is substantially a shallow tray supported on legs 21, has its work surface 40, 50, 51, 27 primarily intended to receive trays of file records or the like. However, it is within the scope of this invention to embody these teachings in any article support for any operation where it is desirable to circulate articles around a circuitous path that may be either closed or open ended. While only a single file tray of records, such as A, B, and C, are shown mounted on each of the carriages 60, still, it is thought to be obvious that more than one file tray could be mounted on each carriage 60 and the several file trays on each carriage could be arranged to extend in side-by-side relationship either longitudinally or transversely of the supporting carriage 60. It is also considered to be obvious and a part of this invention to make the separable carriages 6t and supported file trays A, B and C as an integral unit, that is, mount the carriage wheels 67, casters 76 and guide rollers 82 directly on the file trays A, B and C, etc.

The drawings show rod type tracks 41, 41 extending along the straight sections of the opposed sides of the loop-file work circuit between the points 45, 45 (see Fig. 5). At points 45, 45 the rod type tracks 41, 41 merge into the substantially U-shaped track end setcions 51. The U-shaped or substantially semi-circular track end sections 51 are preferably formed from a smooth surfaced plate that is adapted to be engaged by the ball-type casters 76 with a minimum of friction during passage of the carriages around the track ends. It is thought to be obvious that the rod tracks 41, 41 could be omitted and flat plates used throughout the trackway. When plates alone are used then the ball type casters 76 are the only means that need to be used to support the carriages 68 throughout the entire time the carriages are circulated around the trackway. However, the ball-type casters 76 are not as efiicient wheeled mountings for the carriages 66 along the track straight sections as are the wheels 67 so it is preferred to use the combination of ball casters 76 and carriage wheels 67 that is shown in the drawings over any construction using only ball casters for load support. It is also possible to use only ball casters with the trackway shown and have the ball casters ride on the rod tracks 41, 41. With the combination of carriage wheels 67 and ball casters 76 each carriage is independently free rolling at all times so that carriage movement is accomplished merely by lightly pushing on the carriages so as to produce a horizontally directed force component.

The loop type file unit herein described is primarily designed to make a large amount of records readily available to a worker with a minimum of effort. It is obvious that the carriages 60 may be circulated in either direction about the loop-type trackway or the carriages can merely be moved back and forth along any selected portion of the trackway. This type of trackway with its laterally compressed degree turns at each end not only occupies the minimum floor area but it also causes the central island unit 27 to be of minimum size and to be readily accessible to the workers stationed along the sides 22, 23 of the table 20.

Looking now at Fig. 1 particularly, it will be noted that file tray A has passed off the straight section rod tracks 41, 41 and on to the U-shaped plate track section 51 at the end of the trackway. In passing from the tracks 41 to the elevated end section 51 the ball casters 76 first engage the ramp 50 and at that time the load of the carriage is transferred from the carriage wheels 67 to the casters 76 due to the casters 76 extending below the wheels 67 (see Fig. 12). The casters '76 support the carriages 60 throughout their travel around the U-shaped end section 51 and during the exit of the carriages from the end section 51. While entering the end section 51 the rear guide rollers 83, 84 of tray A may be in rolling contact with the side wall. guide straps 91, 36 respectively.

In Fig. 2 the trays A, B, C have advanced somewhat around the end of the trackway over their position in Fig. l and now the outside guide rollers 81, 83 on the carriage 60 for tray A are engaged with the guide straps 91 on the outer side wall 90. Also, the guide wheel 30 on the end of island 27 is engaged with the inner side wall of the tray 61 of the carrier 60 for tray A. The rear inside guide roller 84 of the carriage 66 for tray A is engaged with the front end of the tray 60 of the carriage 61 for tray B.

In Fig. 3 the trays A, B, C have each progressed farther around the end of the trackway and now the guide rollers 81, 83 of the carriage 60 for tray A are engaged with the side wall guide strap 91. The inner front guide roller 82 of the carriage for tray A may be engaged with the strap 36 on the island side wall 35 and the inner rear guide roller 84 is engaged with the inner side of the tray 61 of carriage 60 for tray B. Tray B at this time has its carriage outer guide rollers 81, 83 engaged with side wall guide strap 91 and the inner side of the carriage tray 61 for tray B is engaged with the island guide roller 30. The inner rear guide roller 84 of the carriage for tray B is engaged with the front side of the tray 61 for the file tray C.

Fig. 4 shows the completion of the rounding of the track end by the tray A. Tray A has now passed off the plate track 51 and down ramp 50 so that the load is now being transferred from the ball casters 76 to the carriage wheels 67 that are aligned with the tracks 41, 41. Tray B at this time has its inner front guide roller 82 in contact with the rear side of the tray 61 for file tray A. Also the outer guide rollers 81, 83 are engaged with the outer side Wall guide strap 91. Island guide wheel 30 is engaged with the inner side of the tray 61 for the file tray B. Tray C at this time has its outer guide rollers 81, 83 engaged with the outer side wall guide strap 91 while its inner front guide roller 82 is engaged with the inner side of the tray 61 for the file tray B. The preceding description is thought to be sufiicient to point out that as the trays go around a track end curve that all points of contact are made by roller elements that reduce friction to a minimum so that movement of the tray carriages is both easy and quiet.

We claim:

1. An article support comprising an elongated table, a laterally compressed, loop-type track mounted on the table work surface, a work compartment located in the area surrounded by said track, upstanding inner and outer side walls defining the substantially semi-circular track sections at opposite ends of the loop-track, and one or more work supporting carriages arranged for movement around said loop-type track, each carriage comprising a tray having ball casters mounted thereon adapted to rollingly support the tray on the track and guide rollers that project laterally outwardly beyond the sides of said trays so as to engage the upstanding inner and outer side walls at the ends of said track as the carriage passes around the substantially semi-circular track end sections.

2. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide means that extend into the U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction reducing guide means projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls.

3. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending length- 6 wise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide rollers that extend into the U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction redueing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls.

4. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide rollers that extend into the U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls and with adjacently positioned track mounted carriages.

5. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide rollers that extend into the U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with certain of the carriage load supporting friction reducing means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections.

6. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide rollers that extend into the U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with certain of the carriage load supporting friction reducing means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections and said track end sections being arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by angularly related ramps.

7. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining therebetween a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely .spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end a friction reducing guide roller that projects over a portion of the associated U-shaped track end section, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted .to becirculated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having 'load supporting means adapted for rolling engagement with said track, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engagea-ble with certain of the carriage load supporting means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections, and said track end sections being arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by angularly related ramps, said ramps and track end sections being engageable with certain of said :carriage load supportingmeans as the carriage passes over the track end sections.

8. A cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having .an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-sl1aped end sections, said island having mounted on each end friction reducing guide rollers that extend into the -U-shaped track end sections, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having friction reducing load support means for engagement with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with certain of the carriage load supporting friction reducing means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections and said track end sections being arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by angular'ly related ramps engageable with other of the carriage load supporting friction reducing means as the carriage passes over the track end sections.

9. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining therebetween a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end a 'friction reducing gm'de roller having portions thereof that project over po-rtions'o'f'the associated U-shaped track end section, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having load supporting rolling means engageable with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with certain of the carriage load supporting rolling means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections, said track end sections being plate type surfaces arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by angularly related ramps.

10. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining therebetween a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end a friction .reducing guide roller having portions thereof that project over portions of the associated U-shaped track Cir end section, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having load supporting trolling means engageable with said track and friction reducing guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with certain of the carriage load supporting rolling means as the carriage passes over the track straight sections, said track end sections being plate type surfaces arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by an gularly related ramps, said track ramps and plate type end sections being engageable with other of the carriage load supporting rolling means.

11. A filing cabinet comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining therebetween a loopype track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end a friction reducing guide roller that has edge portions thereof extending over portions of the associated U-shaped track end section, and one or more work supporting carriages adapted to be circulated around said track, each carriage comprising a tray having load supporting wheels and casters arranged for alternate engagement with said track and guide rollers projecting beyond the sides of the carriage adapted for engagement with the track side walls, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and engageable with the carriage load supporting wheels as the carriage passes over the track straight sections, and said track end sections having plate-like surfaces arranged at a different level than said straight section raiis and connected thereto by angularly related ramps that are engageable with the carr-iage load supporting casters as the carriage passes around the track end sections.

.12. A work support comprising a shallow elongated tray having an elevated island portion extending lengthwise of the central area of its work supporting surface and upstanding side walls encircling said island and defining therebetween a loop-type track composed of a pair of transversely spaced apart straight sections having their adjacent ends connected by substantially U-shaped end sections, said island having mounted on each end a friction reducing guide roller that has portions projecting above portions of the associated U-shaped track end section, said track straight sections each having track rails extending lengthwise thereof and said track end sections being arranged at a different level than said straight section rails and connected thereto by angularly related ramps.

13. An article support comprising an elongated table, a laterally compressed, loop-type track mounted on the table work surface, a work supporting area formed on the portion of the table encircled by said track, upstanding inner and outer side walls defining the substantially semicircular -track sections at opposite ends of the looptype track, and one or more work supporting carriages arranged for movement around said loop-type track, each carriage comprising a tray having rolling means mounted thereon adapted to rol lingly support the tray on the track and means carried by 'said tray arranged to engage the upstanding side walls at the ends of said track to assist in guiding the carriage around the substantially semi-circular track end sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,657 Spivey. June 10,, .1890 597,837 Castle Jan. 25, 1898 597,838 Castle Jan. 25, 189-8 

